Letters to the Editor

Living City a burden?

Devonport aldermen must be both excited and relieved to have signed an exclusivity agreement granting Fairbrother two years to bring a hotel development to a stage of “construction ready” only.

There appears to be no reported binding conditions to actually build a new hotel despite council having to represent ratepayers it knows there is adequate demand for a 150-200 room hotel.

Council continues to promote on its website that “retail, food and beverage opportunities in the future Waterfront Precinct – Seeking Expressions of Interest”, which goes to show that council is not concerned with cannibalising existing businesses with over supply, including its own food pavilion.

Council seems fixated on more ratepaying developments to fund its bloated structure and egos.

Arguably, even if all the Living City private investment materialises the increased rates are unlikely to cover much more than loan interest leaving ratepayers debt burdened.

Malcolm Gardam, Miandetta

Defending Liberal team

In response to Wayne Cooper (Adv., Oct 10), I disagree with his assertions regarding the Braddon Liberal team.

As part of the reshuffle, I became the government’s nominee for Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees, as well as continuing as Government Whip.

My colleagues and I are delivering real outcomes like securing a landmark 10-year funding deal for the Mersey Hospital, extending regional and rural high schools to years 11 and 12 to better prepare students for the workforce, and working to re-open the Arthur-Pieman region to cater for all.

I advise Mr Cooper and others to think very carefully about returning Tasmania to the economic abyss that 16 years of Labor-Green government plummeted us to.

How could one forget it was the Labor-Green government that trashed the forestry industry, pillaged 10,000 jobs, locked up the Tarkine, and tried to shut down schools?

A vote for any other party will bring that disaster back again.

Joan Rylah, Member for Braddon

Pensioners unite

Most in the community would appreciate the point made by Wayne Snooks (Adv., Oct. 13), realising that the pension is indeed grossly inadequate.

The incremental payments of a few dollars every six months that might buy pensioners a cup of coffee out once every fortnight is an insult to them all.

Members of Parliament obviously think that they are paying their money to our pensioners and that they are giving them charity.

Pensioners should realise that they are a growing and powerful force in our society and make in known that they will vote accordingly.

Len Langan, Longford

UNWELCOME: Peter Mudford says an accurate count of seals relocated to northern Tasmania needs to be undertaken so the same number can be sent down south.

Return to sender

We need to know how many seals have been transported to the northern Tasmanian coastline so that those involved in fishing, both commercial and recreational, can capture an equivalent number and have them relocated down south whence they came.

An additional number should be included for any breeding that may have occurred in the meantime.

Peter Mudford, Ocean Vista

‘Shocking display’

I had the opinion that Australia was a democratic country.

However, the shocking display by many yes voters of aggressive bullying, mob pressure, plus despicable behaviour, has probably persuaded many people to vote no.

In years to come when Australia becomes a republic, I dread the thought of how some of the radical left-wing groups will behave when a president is elected.